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Peres to Goldwasser and Regev families: All of Israel is hurting with you (World, 28 articles)
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Israel and Hezbollah completed the prisoner swap Wednesday: Hezbollah returned the bodies of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, while Israel handed over terrorist Samir Kuntar and four Hezbollah militants, as well as 197 bodies. Thousands of Israelis turned out to attend the funerals of two soldiers captured by Hezbollah two years ago and whose bodies were returned as part of a prisoner swap with the Lebanese militia movement. NAQOURA, Lebanon - Critics of Israel's lopsided prisoner exchange with Lebanese guerrillas said Wednesday that such deals only encourage more hostage-taking - a fear underscored by Gaza militants who said the swap proves that kidnapping is the only language Israel understands. Across the border, a second day of celebrations swept Lebanon for the five militants freed by Israel in exchange for the soldiers' bodies. Hizbollah on Wednesday celebrated the release of the last five Lebanese prisoners held by Israel as a "victory from God" and gave them a welcome at a rally attended by much of the country's political leadership. July 16: Balloons are released during the ceremony welcoming prisoners exchanged for two Israeli soldiers, in Nakura, southern Lebanon, Wednesday, July 16, 2008.
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Gates plans to send more troops to Afghanistan (World, 14 articles)
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The Bush administration is looking for ways to send more troops to Afghanistan amid a resurgence of violence in the country nearly seven years after the US ousted the Taliban regime. Robert Gates, US defence secretary, said yesterday the Pentagon was "working very hard to see if there are opportunities to send additional forces sooner rather than later". His comments increased the likelihood of further reductions in US troop levels in Iraq later this year to free up forces for Afghanistan.
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Other stories about Iraq, troops and qaida:
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U.S. judge rules first Guantanamo war crimes trial can go ahead (World, 10 articles)
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WASHINGTON (CNN) A federal judge refused Thursday to delay the approaching military commission trial of a Yemeni man who served as Osama bin Laden's personal bodyguard and driver A U.S. District Court in Washington ruled Thursday that the first war crimes trial in connection with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks can go ahead as planned next week at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His lawyers had asked the district court in the U.S. capital to order a delay while Hamdan mounted a challenge to his continuing detention at Guantanamo Bay.
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Other stories about Khadr, Guantanamo and military:
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US envoy to attend Iran-EU nuclear talks (World, 14 articles)
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TEHRAN, Iran - A two-day Iranian show of force through the launching of medium- and long-range test missiles was meant to strike fear in the hearts of the country's rivals. Senior U.S. officials tell ABC News that no decision has yet been made on whether to open the first American diplomatic post in Iran in almost 30 years - despite a British newspaper report to the contrary. Such a decision would put American officials in Iran for the first time since 52 diplomats were held hostage for 444 days from 1979 to 1981.
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Saudi monarch decries extremism (World, 4 articles)
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" In a world threatened by sinister and indiscriminate forms of violence, the unified voice of religious people urges nations and communities to resolve conflict through peaceful means and with full regard for human dignity Benedict told an inter-religious meeting. The pope, in Australia for the Church's World Youth Day, also said the Catholic Church was open to learn from other religions, a comment seen in the context of moves to improve relations with other religions, particularly Islam. MADRID - Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah opened an unprecedented meeting of Muslims, Christians, Jews and other believers yesterday with a call to shun the extremism that has tarnished the reputation of religious faith.
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Pope Benedict fails to tackle paedophile priests in Sydney -Times Online (World, 8 articles)
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The world's natural resources are being squandered in the pursuit of " insatiable consumption Pope Benedict XVI said Thursday in a speech in Sydney, Australia, urging followers to care more for the environment and reconnect with the principle of peace. The crowd, massed on a disused wharf in Australia's largest city, regularly erupted in cheers that gave the event the feel of a sporting event. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Thursday told a huge gathering of young people that they were inheriting a planet whose resources had been scarred and squandered to fuel insatiable consumption.
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Chinese impose blackout over new Tibetan monk deaths (World, 6 articles)
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The gathering follows a similar forum in Beijing on Tuesday that produced wide-ranging agreements on boosting Chinese tourism to the U.S., increasing safeguards over Chinese products and opening up midsize Chinese cities to American imports. In opening remarks at a faux imperial palace outside Beijing, Paulson warned that "short-term, politically expedient" protectionist measures would harm prosperity and prospects for working through trade frictions. " The U.S.-China relationship has become central to each nation's interest and to maintaining a stable, secure and prosperous global economic system Paulson said.
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Official Zimbabwe inflation at 2.2 million percent (World, 8 articles)
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Worsening shortages of basic goods, and the deadly political and economic turmoil surrounding the national elections March 29 and a disputed presidential runoff vote June 27, helped spur the spike in inflation in recent months. Zimbabwe Reserve Bank Gov. Gideon Gono announced the new figure of 2.2 million percent at the launch of a program to sell subsidized food through selected shops and a system of coupons issued to the needy, state radio reported Thursday. HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe accused Britain yesterday of trying to seize control of resources in the devastated African nation, as his government announced that inflation had risen to 2.2 million percent.
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Spanish court clears four more in Madrid train bombing (World, 4 articles)
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The court overturned a 2007 ruling, which found three of the men guilty of being members of an Islamist cell that carried out the bombings that killed 191 people and wounded more than 1,800. All four were among 21 people convicted last year of blowing apart four morning commuter trains in attacks prosecutors said were inspired by, but not directed by, al Qaeda. The court cited a lack of evidence in the cases of the Syrians, the Moroccan and Gonzalez.
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U.S. plans peace talks with Israelis, Palestinians (World, 4 articles)
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Rice met a Palestinian delegation in Washington on Wednesday and offered to host the three-way meeting between herself, chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurie and his Israeli partner , Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Erekat said. The top U.S. diplomat is mediating efforts to reach a peace agreement this year between the Palestinians and the Israelis, in the waning months of Bush administration, which ends in January 2009. Erekat said efforts were also under way for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert next week, but he had no further details.
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Pakistan troops shell militants (World, 4 articles)
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Top commander held Talks mediated by a jirga, or tribal council, broke down when the government refused to release the militants who were arrested. The government's adviser on interior affairs, Rehman Malik, said the militants being held include a number two commander of top militant leader, Baitullah Mahsud. An MP has revealed how offers have been made of up to 250 million rupees, $3 million, for each vote cast in parliament.
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Plan to send Mideast refugees to Sudan draws protest (World, 6 articles)
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Palestinians are the most vulnerable group being targeted in Iraq, said Andrew Harper Switzerland-based senior Iraq operations manager. DAKAR, Senegal - Sudan's president has agreed to resume diplomatic ties with Chad, one month after severing them following an unprecedented rebel attack near the Sudanese capital, officials said Thursday. President Omar al-Bashir accepted the turnaround after an appeal by Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade, who has been trying to broker peace between the two sides, according to a statement issued by top officials from both countries meeting in Senegal.
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Belgian monarch refuses PM's resignation (World, 6 articles)
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BRUSSELS, Belgium- Belgium's king refused to accept the resignation of the prime minister and his government Thursday, calling on key officials to redouble efforts to resolve an longtime disagreement over more self-rule for the country's Dutch and French speakers. King Albert II asked politicians from both language camps to help sort out a deepening split over reforms that threatens to tear apart this nation of 6.5 million. The prime minister bears only limited responsibility for the failure to resolve a long-standing conflict over regional autonomy and electoral reform that still paralyses the nation months after political parties had appeared to break the stalemate.
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Church of England votes to ordain women bishops -Times Online (World, 5 articles)
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The problems of the Anglican Communion are being sorted out by its leaders, the bishops - well, those bishops who have decided not to boycott the Lambeth Conference. After one of the most contentious debates faced by the Church's General Synod, its members voted to allow the consecration of women bishops but rejected compromise proposals for new "super bishops", who would have catered for the objectors. The Church of England's ruling body on Monday night voted to back women becoming bishops without giving traditionalist supporters of male-only bishops the concessions they had sought.
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Nigeria: Pre-dawn explosion damages oil pipeline (World, 4 articles)
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Human rights activists in Nigeria's Delta have condemned an offer from the UK government to provide military training to secure oil supplies. The Delta's most publically visible group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) also condemned the UK's offer. Col. Chris Musa said he did not know how severe the damage was to the pipeline.
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French minister denounces burqa (World, 4 articles)
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A Muslim member of the French Government has attacked the head-to-toe Islamic dress as a prison, applauding a court decision to deny citizenship to a Moroccan woman who wore it. " The burka is a prison, a strait-jacket Fadela Amara, the Minister for Urban Affairs and a longstanding women's rights campaigner, said yesterday. At the time, she was chair of an international law firm and was well aware of how the French were perceived globally.
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blaster@cs.columbia.edu
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